In Through the Looking Glass, 2022, Bahraini artist Zayn Qahtani explores themes of transformation, vision, and the cyclical nature of existence through the symbolic figure of a siren. At the center of the deep terracotta, textured paper composition, a mermaid-like figure arches her body, her tail curving around her to form a circular, ouroboros-like frame. Relief gilt PLA accents highlight her scales, catching the light and adding a shimmering quality that contrasts with the muted earth pigments. PLA, a plant-based, biodegradable material, not only enhances the work’s tactile quality but also aligns with Qahtani’s focus on natural, organic elements.

The central figure holds what appear to be eyeballs in her hands, a haunting motif that directly references Qahtani’s own experience with vision loss. Diagnosed with uveitis, the artist has suffered severe visual impairment – a reality that informs much of her work. The eyes in Through the Looking Glass become symbols of both her longing to see clearly and the disorienting sensation of fading sight.

Scattered stars punctuate the indigo background, their glow unsettling against the soft textures of the paper. The celestial imagery draws upon the ancient Dilmun civilization of Bahrain, where stars were seen as symbols of divinity and spiritual transcendence. This reference resonates deeply with Qahtani, who was raised atop a Sumerian burial site, a landscape steeped in rituals of death, grief, and rebirth.

The use of organic materials further grounds the work in Qahtani’s homeland. The composition is rendered on recycled cotton paper made from Bahraini date palm fibers, while earth pigments and gilt create layered textures that oscillate between solidity and fluidity. The reflective quality of the gilt adds a dreamlike effect, evoking the dual nature of sirens as both alluring and dangerous; these are creatures that can draw in or repel, reveal or obscure.

In this work, Qahtani adopts the siren as a personal and existential symbol, using its dual nature to explore the tension between self and anti-self, sight and blindness, seduction and danger. By integrating tactile elements, symbolic motifs, organic materials, and personal mythology, Qahtani invites viewers to traverse the liminal space between reality and reverie.